(MISA/IFEX) – On 19 January 2003, Phiwokwakhe Ngidi, a reporter from the “Times of Swaziland” newspaper, was attacked and severely beaten by Bongani Mamba, chairman of Ligcabho Lebuhle Eswatini, an organisation that organises beauty pageants in Swaziland. On 20 January, the “Swazi Observer” newspaper reported that Mamba was angered by an article written by Ngidi […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 19 January 2003, Phiwokwakhe Ngidi, a reporter from the “Times of Swaziland” newspaper, was attacked and severely beaten by Bongani Mamba, chairman of Ligcabho Lebuhle Eswatini, an organisation that organises beauty pageants in Swaziland.
On 20 January, the “Swazi Observer” newspaper reported that Mamba was angered by an article written by Ngidi that appeared in the “Times of Swaziland”‘s 14 January edition. Ngidi reported that Mamba was intoxicated and in the company of an unknown female when an accident involving his vehicle occurred at Lobamba, approximately 15 kilometres east of the capital, Mbabane, on 11 January. Mamba was also upset that his car registration number was published in the article.
MISA’s Swaziland chapter, MISWA, confirmed that Mamba punched the reporter several times. The victim also told MISWA that Mamba said he was likely to lose his motor vehicle insurance coverage and that the article sought to tarnish his image. The matter has since been reported to the police. Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Sabelo Dlamini confirmed that an inquiry has been launched into the incident.
MISWA condemns this kind of reaction by the public, which endangers the lives of journalists. Such incidents threaten journalists’ ability to disseminate information freely for fear of being victimised.
Background Information
Mamba is currently involved in a highly-publicised takeover of the rights to organise Swaziland’s highly lucrative beauty pageants. His recent motor vehicle accident has been widely publicised in the media, with Mamba insisting that the incident was fabricated by the media. Ngidi’s article was backed by verified police reports.
MISWA, together with other media stakeholders and civil society organisations, is in the process of setting up a voluntary media council, which will be accessible to the public, who may not have the resources to take their complaints to court. MISWA and its partners would urge members of the public to refrain from physically attacking journalists and rather use the mechanism of a media council to lodge complaints when they feel they have been slighted by the media.
